Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Synapto

Possibly blossom end rot, calcium deficiency. How's the weather been?

Would look to be more a pollination problem.... photos in this link look very similar....

http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 28959.html

i always thought it was a normal thing. i have pumpkin in right now. i have roughly two good pumpkins per plant and maybe three of your ones per plant.

i've always believe that it was like a self distruct if the fruit was bad in some way. i dont think its common to have more than 4 good ones per vine...........

take a male flower and rub it on the female, make sure that he thanks her afterwards.
It looks as some of the lower leaf is showing signs of potassium deficiency but not enough to be causing the fruit drop~ that is simply from non- or poor pollination.

yep, what i said, but you sound much more believable dan

Sleepe, The weather here has been HOT. Mid 20's to low 30's every day for weeks. Not a cloud in the sky. 14 hours of SUN.

I think I'll tackle the pollination angle. Just put on some mood music and get out the old paint brush.

Synapto

Think pumpkins require multiple pollinations so your going to be busy .

Mid 20's to low thirties would be very nice over here at the moment. Nutrient deficiencies in fruit do occur when its hot and plants are growing vigorously. I would watch the next set and if you get rot again (fingers crossed not) try to identify where the rot starts ie lying on media, exposed to sun, shaded bit etc.

I've experienced lots of fruit drop in plants in that family. Good luck in the pollination. One method would be to pick a male flower and pull the petals off then you can simply use the sexual bits of the male flower to visit all the female flowers.

The calcium deficiency angle is usually not that there is a lack of calcium available but that the plants are having issues getting it to the fruit. This can happen if the plants are experiencing stressing fluctuations in moisture levels, usually not an issue in AP unless something goes wrong with the pump timing or a clog or some other reason a bed might dry out completely and then be waterlogged.

Some people will spray plants with something that can provide calcium as a foliar feed to help keep it from happening in a dirt garden but probably not necessary in AP.

I do expect it is incomplete or lack of pollination.

Good luck!

Yep, did that this morning with one male flower at a time with the petals pulled off. The neighbour thought I had gone mad. Now we wait and see.